Saturday, December 24, 2011

Six of the seven above mentioned just offended the "Keep Christ in Christmas"crowd. You familiar with this crowd? The "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" crowd? The "How dare you eliminate my savior from "our" holiday" crowd? They pretty easy to spot....anyone who list a Facebook status as Merry CHRISTmas! Is feeling the social pressure of understanding that Xmas is a holiday for ALL to celebrate,with or without recognizing that a supernatural baby was born of a virgin on who knows what date (The actual birth date of the Christian savior is not known).These are the same Christians that incorporate Pagan rituals into their religious rituals as well. You'll find it hard pressed to find a "Keep Christ in Christmas" rep that does not have a Xmas tree in his or her home,and of course adhere to other secular rituals during the holiday season. How many people down at the local baptist church does not play the Santa game for religious reasons? You never hear a secularist campaigning for the end of Xmas trees or Santa rituals from the Christian home. But reverse this and notice how easily the "Jesus is the reason for the season crowd" is offended by a denotation of Xmas. It's like a personal attack on their religion. and We are treated as though we just rejected the Jesus Lord and Savior and just booked a first class direct ticket to hell fire. I personally don't have issues with saying Merry Christmas. If I know you celebrate Christmas in a Jesus kind of way or even in a secular fashion you'll get a Merry Christmas from me. Its only when I address a large group of people that I'll announce a "Happy Holiday's" I just so happen to know a large diverse group of people and I like to include ALL in that greeting. It's not like anyone is purposefully trying to offend anyone by "excluding" Jesus. It's merely an acknowledgement that during the Holiday season there are multiple ways for people in this world to celebrate. The "Keep Christ in CHRISTmas"crowd sometimes fails to notice this world they live in is extremely big and full of diversity. Its easy not to notice or even acknowledge when this crowd is used to surrounding themselves by people that only think and believe as they do. Once you block out the rest of the world...and view them as nothing more than lost souls and sinners it becomes a little more clear why the "How dare you eliminate my savior" crowd gets offended.Their total lack of understanding that, well, Jesus may be "THE" reason for the season. (even though I would submit that even Christians;at the very least really don't believe this either considering the Pagan rituals they subscribe to. It would be more fair to suggest a more suitable motto like : Jesus is A (one of many) reason for the season.)So as for me...I'm keeping the X in Xmas and I'm wishing everyone a happy and joyous holiday season. Season's greetings to one and all..Yes..even to you dear Muslims and Hindu's...and Buddhists...and atheists....and secularists....and Jews...and Christians :)

One of my favorite aspects of the holiday season is how everyone you meet tends to be a little more polite, more friendly, more willing to help their fellow man. It is indeed a certain type of (for lack of better word) spirit that fills the air. And I don't care how you celebrate the holiday season you'll have no trouble in agreeing with the idea that this world would be a much better place if the spirit of Xmas lingered for 12 months of the year. You don't need a Jesus type figure in the world to figure that out.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Well, a year of blogging has come and gone. I set out to post an entry a week for the last 52 weeks and I have just about raced across the finish line. This entry and my next will be a completed task and goal that I set forth in 2011.I was having breakfast with my dad a little over a year ago and the conversation we had that morning was a helpful tool in determining what my blog set out to do. He explained to me this idea and fantasy he had about writing about his life,a memoir if you will, because he understood personally that no one knew him very well. He is such a quiet and private man...so private in fact that I dare say even his three sons doesn't know him very well. He isn't exactly the kind of guy that opens up and communicates very well either. I know this because he has passed on those genes to me. Anyone who has ever dated me knows I don't speak my mind when I should. It's a suppressed feelings gene and the Weaver's have it!So, That lead me to take action and create a blog to create some openness between I and the people that know me best. I saw that I was living the same life as my dad and that I do not always speak what I feel. So a blog was born. My opinions and ideas are shared to all those that care enough to read. I would like to thank everyone that has read an entry or two in the past year. Some of you have read every one of the entries and to that I say ...you're the best! Thanks!All the thumb's up,comments, and concerns were greatly appreciated. To date I have 5505 total hits for the 50 current entries....and counting.

I will continue to blog in 2012 but at a more random schedule. I still have a lot to say and open up to and I didn't get to approach every subject that I set out to comment on. I hope every one has a great holiday season and a Happy 2012!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Well, another college football regular season has come to a close. I would love to be able to tell you that 2011 was an exciting and thrilling season but I never watched a single minute of any of the games. What's the point knowing the end game is always a disaster. By end game of course I'm referring to the travesties that await at the end of the season. A final time of booting up the BCS computers to see which two teams finally qualified for the BCS Championship Game. Everyone knows the story. A complex computer formula for determining the final 2 colleges. The formula has to do with a few polls,added in with a win/loss record...perhaps influenced by a touch of strength of schedule...and who's got the prettiest cheerleaders I think is a factor...after all that is determined then you divide all those results by the square root of average attendance. Top two teams plays for the title. The bottom line is pretty simple. Once your favorite college team suffers its first loss of the season....Their season just ended. So it could be said that the NCAA college football playoffs starts in week one of the season. Its a shame that college football is so popular. Fans don't seem to mind the lack of a playoff system and no one seems to be allergic to all that wool the BCS has used to cover the eyes of the fans. It just doesn't seem right to me. College water polo is settled through a final NCAA tournament. Until college football adopts a playoff system,I'm officially boycotting the game. Enjoy the 6 week break before the "big game" fans. Seems to me that is plenty of time to have a top 10 playoff system. Keep your user friendly ranking system intact and use it for this playoff system. If there is a controversy...and there will be a controversy....at the very least let it be between the 9th-12th ranked teams. Leave the finger pointing and blame out of the top 3 or 4 ranked schools.Every year fans piss and moan about this team and that team not be worthy of going to their respected bowl games. VA Tech caught a lot flack for being assigned the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans this year. A playoff system would most definitely be the best way to prove the VA Tech Hokies are not deserving of this. They lose in the first round and only have themselves to blame.... they win...well off to the next round. I won't waste any time bashing VA Tech or and other college ...like I said I don't keep up with college football. I don't want to upset any Hokie fans out there...I understand Beamer walks on water. I get it. Go Hokies!!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

I wonder what life would be like being a father? I spent some time this week day dreaming on the idea that I had a son or daughter running around this world and contemplated how much my life would have changed as a result. I wonder how or what approach I would use to raise such a being into adulthood. It is at the very least an 18 year commitment. I know that the days of sleeping in would be gone. I'm quite sure I would have to buy all their meals. Less tennis to be played.Eventually trying to figure out Algebra all over again. I've never considered being a parent to be a very enticing job description. I'm pretty sure its very rewarding but I wouldn't know if I were up to the task.

One of the problems facing society is a result of natural selection. It's pretty simple really and there is nothing that can be done about it. Its a given in the world you were born into. The simple fact is: If you can get laid...you can become a parent. This by the way, is not a good thing. There are plenty...PLENTY of unfit parents in this world. Anyone who has googled images of child abuse will see true evil in this world. Some parents aren't fit enough to even supply the bare basics to their children. At times this is at no fault of their on. They refuse to use birth control and out come the babies. Unfit parents can barely manage their own lives and it complicates life more to try and supply children with proper shelter,food and clothes. Its a harsh reality we live in. Sad.

If I Were a Daddy::

If I became a dad my child would learn about the realities of the world as soon as he/she became old enough to understand them. My child would know at a very early age that he/she has it much better than millions of children in the world,and that understanding how lucky we have it and consider helping those that have less. I think that's a very good first lesson in sharing. I would want a child that finds it more fulfilling to go pick an angel off the angel tree at the mall during the holiday season rather than haul ass to Santa's lap to selfishly start naming off a list of 20 different wants for his elves to consider. In fact, I wouldn't play the Santa game at all..My child would know from a very early age there is no Santa that makes dreams come true. The Santa game is just awful. Lying to your kids about a fictional character that shows up once a year,delivering gifts to kids that's been good. Nonsense. How do parents react to their children when they lie to them? Usually punishment of some form. Double standard really. Society lies to their kids about Santa,tooth fairies,Easter bunnies,etc. How about the magic of reality? Nothing rewarding about that? Might as well tell your children that we are here on earth because Adam and Eve are responsible for populating this entire planet...or depending on your fictional beliefs Noah's family considering they were the only survivors of the Great Flood. Oh, What a sec. That's another thing people lie to their children about.... But to quote the great George Costanza "It's not a lie, if you believe it!"My child would understand and (hopefully) accept evolution. And also ( I apologize in advance) be the kid at school telling your kids the wonderful truths of the world. Science and math would be of the utmost importance living under my roof. Education couldn't be emphasized enough. Yes dear society,what I'm saying to you is...My child would be taught how to think,not what to think. I guess that means presenting both sides to the arguments. But that's nothing to worry about knowing that critical thinking and reason wins the day. Just look to the evidence right?!

I have in the past considered donating sperm to have a little Weaver running around out there. I don't think that would be a lot of fun knowing I couldn't have a hand in raising him/her. Then again I'm not so convinced raising a son/daughter would be fun. Who knows....I know the actual act of donating would be a lot of fun. I've had plenty of practice runs at that activity. I wonder if there's is an audition......